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{
    "id": 977548,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/977548/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 306,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. (Dr.) Mwaura",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13129,
        "legal_name": "Isaac Maigua Mwaura",
        "slug": "isaac-mwaura"
    },
    "content": "but rather to settle political scores. If that is done as a means of fighting corruption, where people sign a code of ethics and the party can discipline them, then people will know that the party will not send them to Parliament, the Cabinet or to independent constitutional commissions if they are corrupt. Interestingly in China, if you belong to the Communist Party of China (CPC), you are not supposed to be a member of any religion. You are supposed to renounce your own religion. That means that one is only guided by the party’s rules and what they call self discipline. Self discipline or self purification is almost like self-quarantine. Maybe it is because the Coronavirus started in China, that is why there are a lot of issues of “self.” Be that as it may, Madam Temporary Speaker, the whole idea is that if one decides that they will not be corrupt, they cannot be corrupt. It starts with all of us and our value systems. On one hand, you can credit religion for the coming into the place of the rule of law. Karl Marx talks about religion being the opium of the masses. We are in the season of Lent. Although I am not a Catholic myself, but Catholicism has been credited for installing the Judeo-Christian laws that we practice today. The problem with the rule of law is that people go the courts, which provide avenues for corrupt individuals to escape. Kenyans have been accustomed to the idea that it takes up to two years before a case is determined. In fact, learning from the experience of the recent impeachment of the former Governor of Kiambu County was groundbreaking. This is because it was executed despite the various injunctions that could have been obtained if time was not observed. If we were a bit lackadaisical in terms of how we executed it, then we would have been caught with time. You have seen revealing cases, such as the one involving Mrs. Cohen and Justice Sankale ole Kantai. However, I cannot comment on that, because it is a matter before court. We have also heard of cases where people flew from Nairobi to Kisumu and other places to take Strepsils. Is that really the case? In short, what I am trying to say is that it is true that we are experiencing a lot of challenges in courts in this constitutional dispensation. Going forward, there must be a way to unlock these cases. Madam Temporary Speaker, another key thing to note is that the issue of balanced budgets for counties and even the national Government is critical. As I moved the Motion, I demonstrated how the public debt is a consequence of corruption, because individuals inflate bills. That means that our revenue is not enough, thus prompting us to borrow. We were with Sen. M. Kajwang’ trying to look at the jurisdictions of the United States of America (USA), where States cannot borrow without a plebiscite to okay the borrowing. Such a stringent measure ensures that you limit expenditure to your revenue base and whatever you are able to collect. The idea of borrowing from future generations has led to a situation where everything goes. It is also quite appalling that our local banks are the ones milking us. It is not even the external people who are borrowing money. That is something that we also need to look at. Article 35 of the Constitution about access to information is very important. Article 47 of the Constitution is about fair administrative action, so that matters are fully expedited; and so that we do not lose momentum. For example, if I am of accused of corruption, it should not take forever for me to be prosecuted, if I am found guilty. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}